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With less than a week to my birthday, I decided to undertake a massive spring-cleaning of my room, wardrobe and life. Not many know of my hoarding skills. Yes, I call them skills 
I decided it was time to make space for new memories. It is not like I am going to kick my memories out, but I do need to stop holding on to them so tight. As for stuff and clothes, well they definitely have to go, well most of them I mean. I spent my entire afternoon spring-cleaning three drawers of a cabinet and I got many more to go. I did a good job. I let go off clothes that I had been keeping since 6th grade simply because they had so many memories woven into them. The hoarder that I am it was a massive task and a huge achievement. Left with a mixed bag of feelings I decided to cure my soul with a trip down memory lane for a foodventure. And so I headed out for Café Canana – Coffee House.
Cafe Canara
Located in the old city, Café Canara is not just a coffee house to me. It is more like my Grandparents’ home if I had any besides my parents’ parents. I have been visiting this tiny place called Café Canara since ‘time immemorial.’ I do not have any recollections of my first visit there, but I have many memories of my many visits there. Grandparents’ homes are never supposed to change. They stand still amidst the fast changing universe. When you walk past those crossroads at Dandiya Bazaar you can see proof of change all around you. But one look at Café Canara and you will wonder they probably found the secret to hold time still.
Cafe Canara
The place even today looks exactly as it did in all my previous visits through the years. I remember the guy who always waited on us as the-guy-with-the-pencil-behind-his-ears.
Café Canara serves pure vegetarian food. My favourite here is the Poona Misal. It’s a mixture like dish made of rice flakes, lentils, yogurt, etc. I guess my love for Idli-Vada and Uttapams must have begun from this place. As far back as I can remember my parents’ regular order at Café Canara comprised of these South Indian delicacies.
Poona Misal
Poona Misal after mixing together all the ingredients
Vegetable Patties
Uttapam
As for service, Café Canara can give McDonald’s a run for their money. They have “quick” service and have maintained consistent taste for all these years. I am sure Café Canara is not a destination in just my memory lane, but in those many memory lanes of all who call Vadodara ‘home’
Personal Poll
Food: Good
Portioning: Good
Service: Quick
Ambience: Canteen-like
Value for Money: Great
As for Dakaars, I don’t rate memories!
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